The Darkest Minds by: Alexandra Bracken

Synopsis: When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her–East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Thoughts: All I can do is sit here and wonder how Alexandra could end the book like that? If you enjoy your heart breaking into a million little pieces and a shocking ending of what the heck just happened… read The Darkest Minds. If you also like sexy boys with mind powers and a world where teens are rare and full of power, The Darkest Minds is also for you. I basically just want to tear my hair out because of how good and shocking this book was.

Kids every where are dying. On Ruby’s tenth birthday her frightened parents sent her away to a government rehabilitation camp. Ruby quickly finds that Thurmond is nothing but a place to be fearful of. There are five different colors of abilities and Ruby knows that she’s a dangerous one, when the time comes for her to escape, she takes it. Along the way she meets the sexy, southern Liam, the smart Chubs, and the silent but smart Zu. The four of them work together to find what’s called “East River” and a place for freedom from the people hunting them for their abilities. But nothing in the world is anything like it seems anymore, and Ruby will need all of her strength to survive it.

Can you imagine a world where the teens are either dying or have amazing mind abilities? That is what Alexandra Bracken has created. She’s created a freighting dystopia world because teens are too powerful. It’s quite brilliant, actually and totally dark which I absolutely love. If you’re graced (or cursed) with these powers to get separated into colors. Red – being able to make fire. Orange – being able to control people with your mind, push thoughts and ideas into people’s heads. Yellow – You’re basically like an electrical outlet. Green – Super brains. And finally Blue – being able to move things with your mind. I’m not sure which category I’d want to fall in if I lived in this world. Each power is extraordinary in it’s own ways.

I liked Ruby, but for a while I thought she was kind of weak… in a smart way. She didn’t flaunt her powers, she wasn’t proud of them as most kids are. If I was in her situation and I was so unsure of myself and my powers I probably would have acted the same way as her. But, I kept finding myself wishing Ruby would get a better grip on her powers, and when she finally does it’s in thrilling situations and one heartbreaking one. On the other side, I really loved Zu’s character and I really, really hope she’s in the next book because I’m very curious about her. Also, Liam. Sweet, sexy, southern, protecting Liam. I heart him… that is all.

I don’t know if an ending as ever evoked so much from me. I’ve been happy about endings, sad about endings, been like wtf about endings. But, with The Darkest Minds I’m actually angry at the ending. I wasn’t expecting it at all… and I’m not sure how Ruby could do that. I really hope it’s fixed or resolved in the second book, otherwise I’ll be so upset. That being said for a book to make me feel all those feels it just proves me how good of a story it is. How invested in it’s characters I am. Overall, The Darkest Minds was fantastic. So many twists and turns and so much fearful power. Alexandra Bracken wove this story very well and some what frighteningly. Totally loved this book from beginning to end. Love the darkness of it. Love the deception of it. Fantastic story.